SCHOOL-GIRL’S FATE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 69, 14 December 1935, Page 28

SCHOOL-GIRL’S FATE

From Carnival to Canal

Nearly six hours were spent by the Derby magistrates in investigating the strange fate of a 14-year-old schoolgirl who disappeared after taking part in the fun at a carnival, and was later found dead in the canal wearing fancy dress.

Finally they, committed for trial on the charge of murder a young man who was originally arrested on a charge of stealing a motor-cycle. According to the prosecution he was in the company of the girl after the carnival, and it was alleged that he made a number of contradictory statements to the police.

One, it was said, was to the effect that the girl rolled into the water, and he tried to rescue her, but she got out of his reach. Tearful scenes in a crowded court marked the hearing of the case, in which, it was alleged that Leslie McNulty, 19, machinist, of The City, Beeston, Notts, was responsible for the death of Marjorie Goff, daughter of Frederick Goff, of Upper Brook Street, Long Eaton. Mr. Johnson burst into tears as he told of the young man’s return home on the morning after the carnival.

6 - Mrs. Johnson also wept during the whole of her evidence.

Mr. G. K. Paling, prosecuting, related that on September 14, Marjorie Goff attended the Long Eaton carnival dressed in gipsy costume and left home about 2 p.m. She was seen during the day enjoying herself, and at 10 p.m., when she was with a girl friend, Dorothy Hutchings, also aged 14, McNulty and a man named Naylor spoke to them.

Dorothy went home, saying her mother forbade her to speak to strangers. Marjorie, McNulty and Naylor walked from the carnival ground, and Naylor left the other two in the main street.

At 11 o’clock, added Mr. Paling, McNulty was seen with Marjorie near the public library, and he had his arm around her. waist.

When the girl did not return home there was a hue and cry, and her description was broadcast Descriptions were also issued of the two men she came in contact with at the carnival.

McNulty and Naylor were both employed in a telephone works. When McNulty set off for the carnival on the evening of September 14 his grandmother told him if he failed to get home by 11.30 p.m. the door would be locked. 1 He arrived at 7.30 on the morning of the 15th and told his grandfather something to the effect that he was “perished,” and “could not get home last night.” On the morning of the 18th his grandmother called his attention to a published description of the two men, and he declared he had nothing to do with it.

When his grandmother showed him a photograph of the girl he said he had never seen her.

On the' night of September 18 he called at Beeston police station, saying he wanted to give information about the broadcast, as the description “seemed to refer to him and his pal 1”

He was then cautioned and said, “I was in company with a girl dressed in carnival costume at Long Eaton about 10 p.m. She answered the description of the missing girl. “We stood talking together for a few minutes, then I put my arm round her and took her for a walk. I had been drinking. I left her near the library near 10 p.m. I did not see her again.”

The Derbyshire police were communicated with, and to Inspector Costello McNulty was alleged to have stated he went with the girl along Tamworth Hoad, turned under the railway bridge, kissed her, and stayed with her about 20 minutes.

He was sick shortly afterward, and she said “Good-night” and left him. He remained on a seat until dawn, and he thought he had been asleep. Whdn he woke up it was daylight. On walking toward Sandiacre he saw a motor-cycle, took it, rode to Nottingham, left the motor-cycle, and went home.

Mr. Paling spoke of the recovery of the girl’s body from the canal on September 19, and added that the inspector told McNulty of this and that he would be put up for identification.

He then made a short statement to the effect that at 10.30 he went with the girl under the canal bridge.

“We were lying on the grass at the side of the water,” the statement ran, “and she seemed to roll in. I tried to reach her, but she went too far away. I cannot tell you the sound. It was terrible.

“I was unable to help her. I could not swim. There was no one about. I got frightened and I would have committed suicide. I went away and into a field. I went nearly mad.” In a further statement McNulty was alleged to have declared; “I did not kill Marjorie Goff. Whatever wrong I did that night, I was not wilfully responsible for her death.

“I have made several statements. Each one is contradictory to the other. It is on this contradictory evidence that the charge was made, but for the moment I can give no detailed account of what happened on the canal side that night. “I cannot defend myself. I never laid a finger on the girl that night.” Mr. Paling mentioned that a postmortem examination of the girl revealed no signs of violence. Death was due to heart failure, following sudden immersion in cold water. There were signs of very early stages of drowning.

Giving evidence, Mr. Johnson, McNulty’s grandfather stated that the young man mentioned that the published description fitted him, and then asked : “What would you do about it?” He replied, “If you are innocent go and clear yourself.”

Albert Edward Naylor, of Dunkirk, Nottingham, who was w-ith McNulty at the carnival, said that on the way they had tw-o glasses of beer at each of the four public-houses at which they called, but they were both sober on reaching the carnival field. The bench committed McNultry for trial at the Derby Assizes in November.